From deathbed to dream win, a regal return to form
WITH an apple and some carrots in hand, Geelong’s Jane Doolan would pop in to see Kings Will Dream.
Doolan and friend Val Moors would feed him and pat him as he stood in his box recovering from the catastrophic injury he suffered in last year’s Cox Plate.
The former trainer was just happy the European import that she part owns was still alive.
Getting Kings Will Dream back to the races was the furthest thing from her mind as she watched her boy recover.
But on Saturday Doolan and Moors were rewarded for their love and dedication to Kings Will Dream when he stunned his rivals to claim the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
It capped off a remarkable recovery, going from his deathbed to Group 1 champion in just under 12 months.
“Never in my wildest dreams did we think we’d win a Group 1. I’m finding it hard to sink in a bit,” Doolan said.
“It was enormous. It looked like he wasn’t going to make it.
“My friend Val, we made numerous visits to the Ballarat vet clinic he was at. Then he went to Laura Dixon’s for rehab and nursing and she did an amazing job. We went there a few times with apples and carrots for him.
“It’s all so hard to comprehend. We were in heaven (with his performances) last autumn and then it crashed rapidly down Cox Plate day … now we’ve won a Group 1 at Flemington.”
Rewind to Cox Plate day 2018 and Kings Will Dream, then trained by Darren Weir, suffered a significant pelvic injury and he was retired after 500m.
Vets weren’t sure they could save his life as he underwent surgery. But he came through the operation and with the help of an extensive rehabilitation program and magic of trainer Chris Waller, Kings Will Dream made it back to the races.
The six-year-old, who has always has shown Group 1 talent, was unbelievable on Saturday, holding off fellow import Finch by a short-head in the Turnbull Stakes with jockey Jye McNeil on board.
“To do what he did (was amazing) … ridden a bit different, third-up, a great ride, great training effort. It all came together,” Doolan said.
“A bit before the 100m mark he was in front and we were jumping up and down … but I’m still finding it really hard to sink in, even though I’ve watched the replay heaps of times.”
Doolan said she hoped Kings Will Dream would head to the Caulfield Cup next start. However, a run in the Cox Plate was still a possibility.
“Quite a few of us would prefer to go to the Caulfield Cup. But we will leave it up to Waller,” she said.
“I would have thought Caulfield (is better) with the bigger track and longer distance. The Cox Plate is high pressure around a tight-ish track.”